Others present included former UK prime ministers Sir John Major and Gordon Brown, Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow and members of the cabinet including Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, were also present.
Earlier, setting out plans for the memorial stone, Dr Hall described Mr Mandela as “one of the most remarkable world leaders of the last century”.

He said: “His remarkable constancy under suffering stand as an example to everyone.

“In addition, his capacity for forgiveness and his generosity of spirit show what humanity at its best can achieve.

“His memorial in Westminster Abbey, justified in itself, standing amongst memorials to many of the greatest men and women of the world, not all of them British, will also prove to be a focus of contemplation and prayer for the gift of forgiveness and reconciliation in many communities and places in our troubled world.”

Mr Mandela visited the abbey in July 1996 when, during a state visit, he laid a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior.